Final Series Collapse Doesn't Dampen Season

[JohnC]

Montreal

Despite dropping 3 of 4 to Carolina in the last series of the season to miss out on the playoffs, the Blazers are generally happy with the way the season unfolded. Picked by most to finish with around 74 wins, the Blazers managed to finish with 83 games and miss the playoffs by 1 game. All of this accomplished with one of the youngest teams in the league. The final series of the season saw the Blazers and Kraken match up in a 4 game series that the Blazers only needed to win 2 games. They got off to a great start in Game 1 led by ROY candidate Martin Huigens who pitched 7.2 solid innings to pick up his 16th win of the season. Game 2 saw Daniel King of the Kracken hold the Blazers potent offense to just 8 hits and 3 runs over 8 innings to notch his 14th win of the season. Game 3 saw a great pitching matchup with rookie Moses Tallchief going against veteran Allen Izatt. Once again the Blazers came up short losing a close one 4-2. Game 4 saw the collapse completed as the Kracken hammered Jeff Long and the Blazers 11-4.

All is not lost for the Blazers, with a young team and plenty of cap room heading into 2010. They are sure to be active on the FA market, and may be willing to start moving some of the many prospects they have in the minors for some ML quality players.

Richard Head
Montreal Times

[mrbornac]

The FLA is looking like a tough division now with ATC, MTL, and CAR all having good showings - I have my work cut out for me.

[JohnC]

The FLA is looking like a tough division now with ATC, MTL, and CAR all having good showings - I have my work cut out for me.

Agreed. I have no doubt you will be there shortly as well. The Atlantic div may be starting to catch up to the Midwest and Pacific.

[mrbornac]

The FLA is looking like a tough division now with ATC, MTL, and CAR all having good showings - I have my work cut out for me.

Agreed. I have no doubt you will be there shortly as well. The Atlantic div may be starting to catch up to the Midwest and Pacific.

I am not sure where the losses are going to come from in the FLA outside of Buffalo for a while - but I appreciate your optimism 8)

[Al-Hoot]

I drafted the Dutch Oven. Good to see him pitching well--in the FL. You got a great group of youngsters.

[cheekimonk]

The FLA is looking like a tough division now with ATC, MTL, and CAR all having good showings - I have my work cut out for me.

My stay at his lofty perch will be short-lived. I can return everyone in 2010, but then some contracts start turning over and I'm looking at a 39yo Izatt, 37yo (and injury prone) Feldmann, and 38yo Walton. My situation on offense is worse: 40yo Pere, 37yo Stupples, 37yo Masaki, and 35yo Campbell Jr. ...that's literally all my power. Ávila will be 34 but I don't count on him for power and he may be supplanted by then in any case.

So, perk up! Death comes for us all, my friend...

[mrbornac]

That is very true, but I cannot beleive how bad my team was this year. The road ahead still looks very long and steep!